Re-ensiling effects on inoculated sorghum: Intake,apparent digestibility,nitrogen balance,and animal feeding behaviour

This study aimed to determine whether using inoculants and re-ensiling in sorghum silages affect the intake and feeding behaviour, apparent digestibility, digestible energy, and nitrogen balance of sheep in maintenance. Half the sorghum was inoculated on the day of harvest, and the other half received the same inoculation volume but with water. Sorghum was ensiled in 100 experimental metal drum silos of 200 L covered with plastic: 50 silos with inoculants and 50 without them. After 56 days, 25 drums with inoculants and 25 without were exposed to air for 48 h. The other silos remained closed. The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme with inoculation and re-ensiling. The sheep received the silages after 211 days of ensiling and 155 days of re-ensiling to determine the intake, apparent digestibility, and feeding behaviour of animals. The experimental design was a simultaneous double 4 × 4 Latin square. The re-ensiling process increased silage pH, N-NH₃.TN⁻¹, butyric acid, and propionic acid. The inoculant increased propionic acid in ensiled and re-ensiled silages. Lactic acid concentration presented a statistical interaction with the inoculated and ensiled silage, 58% higher than the other treatment averages. The ADFap digestibility showed a complex interaction, in which the control ensiled and the inoculated and re-ensiled silages were about 35% lower than the inoculated ensiled silage. The Nbal:Nint ratio (g.g⁻¹) in the inoculated and re-ensiled silage had lower nitrogen retention than intake compared with the other treatments. These results indicate that exposing inoculated silages to air does not compromise their use in sheep feeding.     

Diagnostic ultrasonography in cattle with thoracic disease

The pleura and lungs were evaluated by means of sonography in 55 bovine patients with diseases of the thoracic cavity. For these ultrasound examinations, a range of transducers was used. As the lung surface was most often involved in cases of pulmonary disease, it was possible to detect ultrasonographically bronchopneumonia, consolidation, pleural effusion, pulmonary emphysema and pleuritis. Determination of the amount of lung tissue affected provided prognostic information. It was not possible to visualise lesions located deeper within the lungs where peripheral tissue was not affected. A diagnosis of thoracic disease was made on the basis of clinical and ultrasonographic findings and confirmed in 33 cases at necropsy.     

Nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in calves apparently caused by experimental feeding withNarthecium ossifragum

Seven calves were fed a mixture of bog plants containing 15 g (wet matter)Narthecium ossifragum per kg live weight for two consecutive days. Their serum creatinine, urea and magnesium concentrations increased, whereas the serum calcium concentration decreased. Histopathological examination of the kidneys of the 5 calves that were killed revealed tubular epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis. There were signs of liver dysfunction in all the calves including increased aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and -glutamyltransferase activities.All the calves refused to ingestN. ossifragum after 2 days feeding, and their appetite for hay and concentrate was also reduced. It can be concluded thatN. ossifragum is nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic to calves.Abbreviations ALP alkaline phosphatase - ASAT aspartate aminotransferase - -HBA -hydroxybutyric acid - CK creatine kinase - d.m. dry matter - -GT -glutamyltransferase - GFR glomerular filtration rate - GLDH glutamate dehydrogenase - MCV mean cell volume - RBC red blood cells - SEM standard error of the mean - WBC white blood cells - w.m. wet matter     

Moxidectin interference on sexual behavior, penile erection and hypothalamic GABA levels of male rats

The moxidectin (MXD) is an antiparasitic drug used in domestic animals. The mechanism of action, in mammals, involves GABA, a neurotransmitter with an important role in the sexual behavior control. Presently, the effects of 0.2 mg/kg therapeutic dose were studied on sexual behavior, sexual motivation, penile erection and central GABA levels. Sexual behavior results showed increased latencies to the first mount and intromission as well as in inter-intromission interval; a reduction in total mounts was detected on the drug post-treatment. No difference was observed between sexual motivation of control and experimental animals. MXD treatment reduced penile erection and hypothalamic GABA levels. The results suggest that MXD reduced sexual behavior and penile erection by an action on the hypothalamic GABA system. Probably, the lack of effects in the motivational test and the increased mount and intromission latencies as well as decreased total mounts could be explained as a consequence of reduced male rat erection process.